Demolition Man 2: Release Date, Cast & Story Details
With Sylvester Stallone announcing Demolition Man 2 is in the works, what can fans expect from the sequel to the 1993 sci-fi action blockbuster?
Here's what to expect from Demolition Man 2, including when the sequel to Sylvester Stallone's Demolition Man could release, as well as its story and who'll be in the cast. The original Demolition Man followed Sargeant John Spartan (Stallone), a cop with a penchant for leaving a trail of destruction in his path, who ends up being placed in a cryogenic prison.
Spartan is defrosted in the year 2032, where Los Angeles has become a politically correct ‘utopia’ that restricts all manner of behaviour from swearing to drinking to sex, leading to a heavily controlled non-violent society. He is tasked with taking down 20th Century madman Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes), who has escaped from cryo-prison and is wreaking havoc in New LA: San Angeles.
Demolition Man offers a great blend of action blockbuster set pieces and detailed world building with moments of witty satire, earning $159.1 million on a budget of $57 million. It was also an exciting head to head between Stallone and Snipes, and featured a then unknown Sandra Bullock in one of her first major roles as Lieutenant Huxley. With a sequel in the works, here's what to expect from Demolition Man 2.
Star Sylvester Stallone recently confirmed that Demolition Man 2 is in the works. Following his previous returns to fan favorite characters in the likes of Creed and Rambo: Last Blood, Stallone’s desire to return to his John Spartan character should come as no surprise. The current state of development of Demolition Man 2 is a little vague, however. Stallone had this to say when asked about the chances of a sequel: "I think there is. We're working on it right now with Warner Bros. and it's looking fantastic.” Since that, no official word has come from Warner Bros to either confirm or deny Stallone’s statements. So, while it’s worth taking this news with a pinch of salt, it seems Demolition Man 2 is a prospect that fans can get excited about.
In terms of a release, Demolition Man 2 is a long way down the line. With the current coronavirus pandemic pushing back release dates and production schedules across Hollywood, projects will likely take priority for both Warner Bros and Stallone himself, what with production on his dark superhero movie Samaritan going on hiatus in March. Once that’s completed, it is then a question of what project Stallone decides to focus on next, as he has also shown interest in the long-developed sci-fi action Hunter and The Expendables 4. Assuming Demolition Man 2 takes precedence, it's still likely a release won’t happen till 2023, which would mark the first film’s 30th Anniversary.
There's an opportunity for more original cast members to return alongside Stallone. Denis Leary, who played the leader of the underground resistance Edgar Friendly, could easily return with his character playing a part in the future administration. Sandra Bullock is a bigger question mark, as her career has skyrocketed since 1993, winning an Oscar along the way. Her sequel experience hasn’t been entirely successful either, with Speed 2: Cruise Control and Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous standing as her only sequels to date. While Wesley Snipes' blonde-haired Phoenix may have met an icy end, there’s plenty of sci-fi means that could bring him back, with cloning being the obvious choice.
As for where the story could go in Demolition Man 2, the challenge will be in establishing what the world looks like thirty years on. The ending of the original left a power vacuum with the death of Dr. Cocteau, the architect of the new society of San Angeles. A potential storyline could see a call for Cocteau’s Utopian vision to be reestablished following an outbreak or a rise in violent crime. The new Cocteau-inspired administration could prove to be just as deceptive in seeking total control as its previous incarnation, as they attempt to kill the Demolition Man to make an example of him for their own political gain. Perhaps more importantly though, viewers could find out how the three seashells work.